False-twisting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus wherein yarn is twisted by frictional engagement with a high friction rotating surface while it passes between such surface and a stationary or moving, low friction anvil surface forming a barrier with the first rotating surface. The yarn is tensioned toward the barrier on either side thereof to insure frictional engagement of the yarn with the high friction surface, while the high friction member is rotated in a direction such as to move the yarn away from the barrier. Water or some other lubricant may be used to minimize wear on the barrier forming surfaces. Further, the relative position of the first rotating surface and the mating anvil which may be counter or co-rotating with the high friction surface may be changed continuously or intermittently to minimize localized wear of these surfaces.

Carruthers [451 Dec. 12, 1972 [541 FALSE-TWISTI-NG APPARATUS [72] Inventor: George A. Carruthers, Haverbreaks,

England [73] Assignee: Turbo Machine Company, Lansdale,

[22] Filed: June 10, 1970 [21]- Appl.No.: 45,111

[52] [1.8. CI. ..57/77.4, 57/157 R, 57/34 HS 1/1967 Wyatt ..57/77.4 X 6/1967 Niina et a1 ..57/77.4

Primary ExaminerWerner H. Schroeder Attorney-Paul & Paul [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus wherein yarn is twisted by frictional engagement with a high friction rotating surface while it passes between such surface and a stationary or moving, low friction anvil surface forming a barrier with the first rotating surface. The yarn is tensioned toward the barrier on either side thereof to insure frictional engagement of the yarn with the high friction surface, while the high friction member is rotated in a direction such as to move the yarn away from the barrier. Water or some other lubricant may be used to minimize wear on the barrier forming surfaces. Further, the relative position of the first rotating surface and the mating anvil which may be counter or corotating with the high friction surface may be changed continuously or intermittently to minimize localized wear of these surfaces.

20 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUEBIZ m2 3,705,487

sum 1 or 2 INVENTOR. George Alon CorruThers Y WV M ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEB DEC 12 m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 .JJ a 5 ow 7 v Q Pk INVENTOR. George Alon CorruThers fox FM ATTORNEYS.

FALSE-TWISTING APPARATUS This invention relates to a method and apparatus for Deeley et al., 2,523,338 Snider, 2,943,433 Van Dijk,

3,094,834 Deeley et al., 3,156,084 Van Dijk et al. The apparatus disclosed in the Carruthers patent is useful for imparting false twist to a yarn by winding together twoends of yarn. Apparatus disclosed in the other patents referenced above imparts false twist to a single-ended yarn.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide effective andv efficient false twisting apparatus having certain advantages over each of the various forms of false twisting apparatus heretofore known.

In accordance with the present invention, false twist is imparted to a running yarn by traversing the yarn from a supply source through a twisting station, engaging it at said station between two barrier forming surfaces, one of which is a high friction, rotating surface and the other of which is a low friction anvil surface, thereby rolling the yarn about its own axis so that the yarn is twisted upstream of such station, and delivering the yarn away from such station to a take-up package. Specifically, the yarn is engaged between the surfaces at a region where they diverge from the barrier and is so tensioned upstream and downstream thereof so that it is biased toward the barrier. A lubricant, such as water, may be applied to reduce wear of these surfaces. The high friction rotating surface is rotated in a direction such that it tends to move the yarn away from the barrier.

Preferably the high friction rotating surface is cylindrical. The anvil surface may be stationary or counter or co-rotating. A counter-rotating anvil surface has the advantage that it avoids the need for lubricant to reduce frictional wear between the barrier-forming surfaces.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic illustrations, in plan and elevation respectively, of one form of the twisting apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the twisting surfaces in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are detail views of the twisting surfaces in the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the false twisting apparatus of the present invention.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1 there is shown a yarn feed package 10, yarn feed rolls 12, yarn withdrawal rolls l4 and yarn take up package 16. After passing through feed rolls 12, yarn Y passes through a heater l8 and cooling zone before traversing the false twisting apparatus of the present invention comprised of a high friction, rotating surface 22, driven by a power driving means not shown, and a stationary low friction anvil or mating surface 24 forming, with rotating member 22, a barrier 26, seen in FIG. 3. Yarn Y is twisted or rolled about its own axis by rotating member 22. Anvil surface 24, serves as a backing member holding yarn Y in frictional engagement with high friction rotating member 22. The surface of either cylindrical rotating member 22 or anvil 24 may be relieved, such as by the relief 28 in anvil 24 shown in FIG. 3, to permit yarn Y to pass through the line of the barrier formed by rotating surface 22 and anvil 24 and back to the feed and withdrawal rolls respectively.

It should be noted that the degree of twist imparted to yarn Y may be varied by varying the angles, a, and a, for example, of the yarns path approaching and leaving the twisting surface. .In effect, this varies the points of engagement and/or disengagement of yarn Y with high friction rotating member 22. I Generally the high friction member is comprised of any non-abrasive, high friction material such as natural or artificial rubber. The anvil surface may be comprised of anylowfriction material such as ceramic or metal, one good example of which is chrome plated steel.

In operation, yarnY is drawn from wound package 10 by feed rolls 12, which constitute a twist barrier preventing the twist running back beyond them, and then passes through heater 18 by which it is heated and cooling 'zone 20 in which it is cooled before arriving at the twisting station. A tensioner may be substituted for feed rolls 12. Yarn Y travels in the direction of arrow B in FIG. I obliquely across the periphery of roller 22 through barrier 26 formed by rotating surface member 22 and anvil 24 to the confined region adjacent barrier 26 and then obliquely upwards, being drawn off by withdrawal rolls 14 and wound onto take-up package Thus a false twist is put into the yarn upstream of the twisting region and this false twist is set into it by heating and cooling the false twisted yarn. It will be seen that in this twisting region rotating member 22 and cooperating stationary surface or anvil 24- diverge from barrier 26 and that the yarn is so tensioned upstream and downstream of this region that it is biased toward the barrier. The forces acting on the yarn in this twisting region, radially of the rotating member 22 and normal to the stationary surface 24 are indicated by the arrows C and D in FIG. 3. These forces are produced by the tension in the yarn which biases the yarn toward the barrier. The magnitude of the frictional torque exerted on the yarn is proportional to the magnitude of force C.

Here it should be noted that the direction of rotation of rotating member 22, indicated by arrow E in FIG. 3, is such as to tend to drag yarn Y away from barrier 26. If yarn Y moves upward toward barrier 26, such as by excess tension, the frictional torque and therefore the twist of the yarn might increase. The apparatusof this invention is self-compensating, however, in that the direction of movement of member 22 and the increasing magnitude of normal forces C and D as yarn Y moves upward toward barrier 26 cause yarn Y to be drawn downward away from barrier 26 thereby preventing any increase in twist or twisting forces due to yarn Y moving toward barrier 26.

- In order to minimize wear on the surfaces forming barrier 26, the periphery of these members may be lubricated. Water may be used for this purpose and a wick device for the application thereof may be used. Further, wear may be minimized by using a hardened anvil surface and by changing the relative position of friction member 22 and anvil surface 24 so that the areas in contact on one or both of these members are continually changing.

In the preferred form of the present invention, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stationary surface or anvil 28 of FIGS. 1-3 is replaced by a counter-rotating (with respect to the cooperating friction surface) surface 32. This counter-rotating surface is, like the stationary anvil surface, comprised of a material having a relatively low coefficient of friction. Positioned adjacent counter-rotating anvil member 32 is high friction rotating member 30, comprised for example of hard rubber, forming with anvil member 32, a barrier-34. Again, the relative position of the friction and anvil surfaces may be changed intermittently or continuously in order to minimize localized wear thereof. The operation of this embodiment of the invention is in other respects similar to that described with respect to the apparatus shown in FIGS. l-3 but frictional wear of friction member 30 and anvil surface 32 is reduced by the use of the rotating anvil surface as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, thereby obviating the need for lubrication thereof. Further, the frictional engagement of counter-rotating members 30 and 32 permits one to be rotated by the other, so that only one need be driven.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown still another embodiment of the twisting apparatus of the present invention in which there is also shown various auxiliary mechanisms associated and cooperating therewith. More specifically, there is shown a high friction rotating member 36, rotating in the direction indicated by arrow F, and forming with low friction anvil member 38 a line of contact or near contact, generally referred to herein as a barrier, and below that barrier a confined region wherein yarn Y, due to upward tension therein, engages high friction rotating member 36.

Wear of adjacent members 36 and 38 is reduced by the application of a lubricant, such as water, from sponge applicator 40.

Anvil member 38, which serves as a backing member forcing yarn Y toward high friction rotating member 36, is forced toward rotating member 36 by the expansion resistance force of spring member 42 through linkage means 44 pivoting about linkage pivot post 46.

Localized wear of high friction rotating member 36 is minimized by continuous longitudinal reciprocating movement thereof produced by shaft 48, driven by driving means not shown, and eccentric cam 50 mounted on shaft 48 and followed by cam follower 52 connected by cam linkage 54 to the high friction rotating member shaft 56. Spring member 58 connected between frame and bushing mounting member 60 and cam linkage means 54 holds cam follower 52 in engagement with eccentric cam 50. During operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, rotation of shaft 48 and eccentric cam 50 causes a linear reciprocating movement of cam follower 52 which is transmitted by linkage 54 to shaft 56 and high friction rotating member 36.

Localized wear of anvil member 38 is minimized by reciprocating circumferential movement of anvil member 38 through movement of anvil member shaft 62 in bushing 64 produced by flexible cable 66 making a wrap 68 about anvil member 38. Cable 66 is suspended under tension between cable holding members 70 secured to high friction rotating member shaft 56. In operation, the reciprocating longitudinal movement of shaft 56 causes a similar movement of cable holding members 70 and the cable 66 in tension therebetween. By means of wrap 68 around anvil member 38 this longitudinal reciprocating movement is transposed into a circumferential reciprocating movement which causes anvil member 38 to be rotated continuously first in one direction and then the other.

The rotating movement of high friction rotating member 36 is produced by driving shafts 72 which are in frictional engagement therewith and along which high friction rotating member 36 slides during its reciprocating longitudinal movement. Pulley and belt means 74 causes shafts 72 to move simultaneously. One of the driving shafts 72 is in turn rotated by a motor 76 connected to an electrical source not shown. Alternatively, driving shafts 72 may be reciprocated longitudinally with member 36 to eliminate the friction of member 36 sliding on shafts 72.

In operation, yarn Y is fed from a yarn feed package 78 about guide 80 and deep V, twist-stopping pulley 82, from which yarn Y passes helically over a tubular heating means, such as a copper tube 84 with steam passing therethrough. Yarn Y then passes through a moveable guide means 86 and through the twisting zone in the confined region adjacent the barrier formed by anvil member 38 and rotating member 36. Yarn Y then proceeds to a second moveable guide member 88 and on to take up package 90.

In the twisting zone yarn Y is twisted by frictional engagement with rotating member 36, such frictional engagement being maintained by anvil member 38 and tension in yarn Y tending to pull yarn Y upward toward the barrier formed by anvil member 38 and rotating member 36. This twist moves progressively back through yarn Y to the twist-stopping pulley 82 and is heat-set into the yarn by means of heater means, specifically heated copper tubing 84 with which yarn Y is in contact during its passage from pulley 82 to guide means 86. Moveable guide means 86 and moveable guide member 88 are adjustable about mounting shafts 92 and 94, respectively. Adjustment in this manner may be used for adjustment of tension in yarn Y or for changing the angle at which yarn Y enters and leaves the twisting zone between anvil member 38 and high friction rotating member 36 for the purpose of controlling the point of engagement and disengagement of yarn Y by high friction rotating member 36, thereby to control the twisting effectiveness of the apparatus.

While this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, various other embodiments within the scope of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The appended claims therefore are intended to extend to all such embodiments within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

. I 1..Apparatus for false twisting yarn comprising a continuously moving member, having a highfriction surface, a stabilizer-member adjacent said high friction surface and positioned so closely adjacent theretothat the yarn does not pass through between them, said two members forming a zone of convergence, and means for guiding said yarn through said zone'of convergence atan angle to the path of movement of said high friction surface and in contact with both said high friction surface and said stabilizer surface, said high friction surface having a coefficient of friction that is greater than that of said stabilizer surface, whereby said con tinuously moving member applies false twist to the yarn.

2. Apparatus for false twisting yarn and the like,

comprising a movable 'frictionl member having ahigh,

friction surface that moves along a predetermined path, stabilizing means having a low friction surface adjacent said high friction surface, said high friction surface hava ing acoefficient of friction that is higher than that of said stabilizing means, the respective; surfaces being positioned so closely adjacent each other as to form a barrier through which said yam does not pass,said high friction surface and said st abilizing surface forming a confined region where said surfaces diverge from each other, drive means for moving said high friction surface continuously in a direction such that it moves continuously toward and past and away from said stabilizing surface while said friction member remains adjacent said stabilizing means, guide means arranged for passing yarn under tension against said high friction surface at a location where said high friction surface is moving away from said stabilizing means, and yarn driving means continuously urging said yarn toward both said high friction surface and said low friction surface with the yam arranged at an angle to the path of movement of said high friction surface to cause twisting byfrictional engagement with said high friction surface while said yarn is also in pressure contact with said low friction surface.

3. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said high friction surface is a rubbery material.

4. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein lubricating means are provided for applying a lubricant to said high friction surface.

5. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein a wet wick continuously moistens said high friction surface with an aqueous fluid in a manner to minimize wear thereof.

6. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2,

wherein said low friction surface is chrome plated steel.

7. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein adjustable guide means are provided to regulate the angle at which said yarn engages said high friction surface.

8. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein a heating means is provided which comprises a heated tube with which said yarn is contacted prior to its engagement with said high friction surface.

9. A false twisting apparatus, as'recited in claim 2, wherein said movable member having a friction surface is a generally cylindrical member which is also reciprocably movable longitudinally along its axis, and wherein said apparatus includes a means for reciprocably moving said generally cylindrical member along said axis.

10. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 9,

wherein said stabilizing means is mounted for rotation. I ,11. A false twisting apparatus, asrecited in claim 10, wherein a cable, suspended under tension between members connected so as to follow the reciprocating movement of said generally cylindrical member, is wrappedabout said stabilizing means thereby, effecting turning movement of said stabilizing means back and forth.

12.-A method of false twisting yarn comprising the steps of providing a member having a high friction surface continuously moving past and adjacent a stabilizing surface having a coefficient of friction which is lower than that of said high friction surface, arranging the two surfaces so closely together that the yarn does not pass through between them, traversing'said moving member with yarn at an angle to the path of movement of the high friction surface and in pressure contact with said high friction surface and with said stabilizing surface, whereby said high friction surface applies false twist to the yarn.

l 13. A process for false twisting yarn comprising traversing said yarn angularly across and in pressure engagement against a high friction moving surface while also in pressureengagement against an adjacent low friction surface, said high friction surface having a coefficient of friction that is greater than that of said low friction surface, said surfaces diverging from each other, driving said high friction surface continuously toward, past and away from said barrier in said confined region, biasing said yarn toward and in frictional engagement with said adjacent, surfaces, said yarn being so located where said surfaces diverge that the high friction surface, when in twisting contact with the yarn, is moving in a direction away from said low friction surface.

14. A process as recited in claim 13, wherein said high friction and low friction surfaces are in substantial contact with one another.

15. A process, as recited in claim 13, wherein said surfaces are associated with counterrotating members.

16. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotatable member having a high friction surface and said stabilizing member having a low friction surface are mounted for rotation in opposed directions.

17. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein means are provided for maintaining said high and said low friction surfaces in frictional engagement with one another, and wherein rotational movement is imparted to one of said surfaces by such engagement.

18. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 17, wherein said movablemember having a high friction surface is a generally cylindrical member which is also reciprocably movable longitudinally along its axis and wherein said apparatus includes a means for continuously and reciprocably moving said cylindrical member along its axis.

19. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 18, wherein said low friction member is a cylindrical member curved away from the axis of said counterrotating friction member at the ends thereof.

20. Apparatus for false twisting yarn of a predetermined diameter, comprising a rotatable member having a friction surface, means providing a stabilizer structure having a stabilizer surface adjacent said friction surface, said member and said means being positioned with their adjacent surfaces in an area of convergence closer together than a yarn diameter, whereby said yarn does not pass through between them, tension means for conveying said yarn into concurrent contact with both said friction surface and said stabilizer surface, and guide means arranged for bending said yarn around in pressure contact with both said friction surface and 

1. Apparatus for false twisting yarn comprising a continuously moving member having a high friction surface, a stabilizer member adjacent said high friction surface and positioned so closely adjacent thereto that the yarn does not pass through between them, said two members forming a zone of convergence, and means for guiding said yarn through said zone of convergence at an angle to the path of movement of said high friction surface and in contact with both said high friction surface and said stabilizer surface, said high friction surface having a coefficient of friction that is greater than that of said stabilizer surface, whereby said continuously moving member applies false twist to the yarn.
 2. Apparatus for false twisting yarn and the like, comprising a movable friction member having a high friction surface that moves along a predetermined path, stabilizing means having a low friction surface adjacent said high friction surface, said high friction surface having a coefficient of friction that is higher than that of said stabilizIng means, the respective surfaces being positioned so closely adjacent each other as to form a barrier through which said yarn does not pass, said high friction surface and said stabilizing surface forming a confined region where said surfaces diverge from each other, drive means for moving said high friction surface continuously in a direction such that it moves continuously toward and past and away from said stabilizing surface while said friction member remains adjacent said stabilizing means, guide means arranged for passing yarn under tension against said high friction surface at a location where said high friction surface is moving away from said stabilizing means, and yarn driving means continuously urging said yarn toward both said high friction surface and said low friction surface with the yarn arranged at an angle to the path of movement of said high friction surface to cause twisting by frictional engagement with said high friction surface while said yarn is also in pressure contact with said low friction surface.
 3. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said high friction surface is a rubbery material.
 4. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein lubricating means are provided for applying a lubricant to said high friction surface.
 5. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein a wet wick continuously moistens said high friction surface with an aqueous fluid in a manner to minimize wear thereof.
 6. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said low friction surface is chrome plated steel.
 7. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein adjustable guide means are provided to regulate the angle at which said yarn engages said high friction surface.
 8. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein a heating means is provided which comprises a heated tube with which said yarn is contacted prior to its engagement with said high friction surface.
 9. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said movable member having a friction surface is a generally cylindrical member which is also reciprocably movable longitudinally along its axis, and wherein said apparatus includes a means for reciprocably moving said generally cylindrical member along said axis.
 10. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 9, wherein said stabilizing means is mounted for rotation.
 11. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 10, wherein a cable, suspended under tension between members connected so as to follow the reciprocating movement of said generally cylindrical member, is wrapped about said stabilizing means thereby effecting turning movement of said stabilizing means back and forth.
 12. A method of false twisting yarn comprising the steps of providing a member having a high friction surface continuously moving past and adjacent a stabilizing surface having a coefficient of friction which is lower than that of said high friction surface, arranging the two surfaces so closely together that the yarn does not pass through between them, traversing said moving member with yarn at an angle to the path of movement of the high friction surface and in pressure contact with said high friction surface and with said stabilizing surface, whereby said high friction surface applies false twist to the yarn.
 13. A process for false twisting yarn comprising traversing said yarn angularly across and in pressure engagement against a high friction moving surface while also in pressure engagement against an adjacent low friction surface, said high friction surface having a coefficient of friction that is greater than that of said low friction surface, said surfaces diverging from each other, driving said high friction surface continuously toward, past and away from said barrier in said confined region, biasing said yarn toward and in frictional engagement with said adjacent surfaces, said yarn being so located where said surfaces diverge that the high friction Surface, when in twisting contact with the yarn, is moving in a direction away from said low friction surface.
 14. A process as recited in claim 13, wherein said high friction and low friction surfaces are in substantial contact with one another.
 15. A process, as recited in claim 13, wherein said surfaces are associated with counterrotating members.
 16. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotatable member having a high friction surface and said stabilizing member having a low friction surface are mounted for rotation in opposed directions.
 17. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein means are provided for maintaining said high and said low friction surfaces in frictional engagement with one another, and wherein rotational movement is imparted to one of said surfaces by such engagement.
 18. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 17, wherein said movable member having a high friction surface is a generally cylindrical member which is also reciprocably movable longitudinally along its axis and wherein said apparatus includes a means for continuously and reciprocably moving said cylindrical member along its axis.
 19. A false twisting apparatus, as recited in claim 18, wherein said low friction member is a cylindrical member curved away from the axis of said counter-rotating friction member at the ends thereof.
 20. Apparatus for false twisting yarn of a predetermined diameter, comprising a rotatable member having a friction surface, means providing a stabilizer structure having a stabilizer surface adjacent said friction surface, said member and said means being positioned with their adjacent surfaces in an area of convergence closer together than a yarn diameter, whereby said yarn does not pass through between them, tension means for conveying said yarn into concurrent contact with both said friction surface and said stabilizer surface, and guide means arranged for bending said yarn around in pressure contact with both said friction surface and said stabilizer surface and for continuously urging said yarn against said friction surface and said stabilizer surface, and for continuously urging said yarn toward said area of convergence with the axis of said yarn arranged at an angle to the path of movement of said friction surface to cause twisting by frictional engagement of said friction surface with said yarn. 